A unique take on a traditional performance art
Fast, exciting, colorful and dynamic, Iwami Kagura is an unforgettable kind of masked dance-theater unlike anything you have seen before. The art has been thrilling local people for decades.
The stories told in kagura dances are mostly drawn from the ancient chronicles of the seventh and eighth centuries. These are easy to follow as they often consist of heroes and villains, gods and demons, of good guys and bad guys. Many times, these dances involve intense choreographed sword-fights. However, it's not all action and drama as there are comedic interludes with some dances that approach pantomime. These interludes are sure to have you laughing and cheering.
The best and most authentic location to see Iwami Kagura is at a local shrine festival usually held in October or November after the rice has been harvested. Continuing all night through until dawn, this is the most intimate and memorable way to experience the folk dance as you are very much a part of the event rather than a mere spectator. Although all-night festivals are now rare in most of Japan, here in this remote corner, they are the norm.
The stories told in kagura dances are mostly drawn from the ancient chronicles of the seventh and eighth centuries. These are easy to follow as they often consist of heroes and villains, gods and demons, of good guys and bad guys. Many times, these dances involve intense choreographed sword-fights. However, it's not all action and drama as there are comedic interludes with some dances that approach pantomime. These interludes are sure to have you laughing and cheering.
The best and most authentic location to see Iwami Kagura is at a local shrine festival usually held in October or November after the rice has been harvested. Continuing all night through until dawn, this is the most intimate and memorable way to experience the folk dance as you are very much a part of the event rather than a mere spectator. Although all-night festivals are now rare in most of Japan, here in this remote corner, they are the norm.
